Pan Zhanle set for Sun Yang showdown as China’s Olympic swimming stars head to Shenzhen
Paris champion Pan could meet Sun at national championships, with Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang also taking part
A clash of generational leading lights is on the cards when the Chinese National Swimming Championships begin in Shenzhen this weekend, with Pan Zhanle on course to race against Sun Yang.
The week-long championships, the country’s premier meet, could provide the first meeting in the pool between the veteran three-time Olympic gold medallist and Pan, who has been striving to surpass him since childhood. Asked at the age of 10 about his future goals, Pan, now 20, had said swimming “faster than Sun Yang is good enough”.
Other star names heading to Shenzhen include Zhang Yufei, Qin Haiyang, Tang Qianting and Yu Yiting, for what will be China’s sole selection event for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and August. Races get under way on Saturday.
He has entered the 50, 100, 200 and 400m freestyle in Shenzhen, raising the possibility of at least one meeting with the 33-year-old Sun, who has been listed for the 100, 200, 400 and 800m freestyle.